Anushka Sharma shortlisted for Steven Spielberg's Kashmir film

By Hindustan Times

Anushka Sharma has done in five years what no Indian actress could do in decades of their career — make it to the shortlist for a Steven Spielberg movie. At just 24 years of age and with only seven movies to her name, Anushka is the frontrunner for the legendary Hollywood filmmaker’s next movie on Indo-Pak affairs, for which he just came visiting.

She is currently the talk of the town thanks to this international achievement, even as Speilberg remains tight-lipped about the final cast of his film. “We have finalised a script ... but we’re still trying to figure out the casting, locations and who’s going to direct it,” AnushkaSpielberg said in a session hosted by actor Amitabh Bachchan in Mumbai. If all goes well and Anushka is finalised, she’ll get to share screen space with actors such as Denzel Washington, Bradley Cooper and Richard Gere.

This isn’t the only feather in her cap. The model-turned-actor, who got lucky right at the outset when she got to star with Shah Rukh Khan in her 2008 debut — Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, also has over 10 endorsement deals in her kitty, including some plum projects with big moolah involved.

Industry insiders who have worked with her say everything seems to be working in her favour. “Anushka bagging anything stupendous is not a surprise. She is one of the finest and nuanced talents of our fraternity,” says director Maneesh Sharma, who worked with her in Band Baaja Baaraat (2010), which was a superhit. Celebrity brand manager Manish Porwal says, “She is a great package of talent and good looks. She is certainly knocking on the door of the top three in Bollywood.”

Film expert Atul Mohan adds, “She made the right choices and was lucky to be working with big banners. If this Spielberg film works out, there’s no looking back for her.”